by Lily Wright Budd
SPRINGER — John Damon Davis of Springer, NM is once again a winner in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution American History Essay Contest. For the past three years, John has won the New Mexico essay award for grade levels 6, 7, and 8. The 2014-2015 NM State essay certificates were presented at an awards luncheon held at the NM State NSNAR Conference in the Uptown Sheraton Hotel in Albuquerque on April 7, 2015. On March 30, the NM State American History Chairman notified the Tierra de Mesetas Chapter that John was also the winner in the Southwest Division (AR, CA, CO, HA, NV, NM, and UT) of NSDAR. Since 1996, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has joined with the National Italian American Foundation in an essay contest on Christopher Columbus. The contest is open to students in grades 9 through 12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and to those who are homeschooled. John is in the 9th grade and is homeschooled at the Santa Fe Trail Academy. Each entrant must first enter a local chapter’s essay contest through its American History Essay Committee. The chapter’s winning essay is sent to the state essay committee; each winning state essay is forwarded to a NSDAR Division Chairman. Its winning essay goes to Washington to be judged by the National italian American Foundation.
Judging for the essay is based on historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest, originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, neatness, and content, as well as following all established rules. Winners of previous essay contests are not excluded from entering again. Winners receive certificates and may also be presented with monetary awards and gifts. The national winner receives $1200 and a trip to Washington to read the essay on Columbus Day.
John chose as the title of his essay Joining Christopher Columbus on his Voyage to the New World- The Pre- and Post-Voyage Ponderings of the Esteemed Navigator, Amos Levi. John’s essay follows a family of Jewish people in the gateway trade city of Constantinople. The character of Amos Levi is fictional but adheres to the story of a real person.
Amos Levi’s grandfather, Isaiah Levi, was a silk merchant of that city. The family fled to Spain where they converted to Christianity during the Inquisition. Here, the family became shipping merchants and Amos learned the skills of sailing and navigation. Because of these skills, Christopher Columbus’ crew offered him the position of pilot and navigator on the Pinta.
Amos believes if this venture is successful, all the trade industry and the world will change. John writes about the qualities of Captain Columbus and his relationship with the Spanish court and what happened to him after his return to Spain. He tells of Amos returning many times to the new world as a successful ship’s navigator on future voyages. John likes to write fiction based on historical facts.
John is the son of Bruce and Trina Davis and the grandson of Linda Davis of Cimarron. The Davis family lives on a ranch east of Springer.For his homeschooling, John has earned credit for an online class called “Teenpact” where he spends time in Santa Fe interviewing New Mexico lawmakers and their constituents.
John is involved on many activities. He is a cowboy with his Mom and Dad but raises sheep for himself. For fun, he enjoys archery and fencing. He works at the Colfax County Fair, helps with the Sunday School classes at his church and is an active member of the 4-H where he is a past president and current secretary if his 4-H chapter as well as now serving as vice-president of the Colfax County 4-H Council.
John was sponsored by the Tierra de Mesetas Chapter NSDAR who represent Colfax County. The Chapter Regent is Wanda Price Miller and the Chapter Historian and American History Essay Committee Chairman is Lily Wright Budd.
